There is no doubt that the task humans have not found a way to make any easier is that of letting go of something once held dear. From today’s mullet growers to ‘Heartbeat’ watchers, moving on to greener pastures and keeping with the times is a frivolous task fraught with tears, denial and embarrassment.
Moving on is a task that is now increasingly likely to be thrust upon Aussie cricket fans. The glory days are behind us. The era of of the late 90’s to the mid 2000’s was more than just a good Australian cricket team. Every player was a media personality, an idol to children, and someone who put bums on seats. It is questionable whether the next crop of national players have the same impact or will be the same drawcards that put fans in stadiums all around the globe.
Gillespie, Lee and McGrath were undoubtedly the best fast bowling trio of their time. Each one was more than just a great player. Gillespie was always a fan favourite and a born entertainer. Lee was always electrified the pace attack with his brand of fast bowling and was the media darling. McGrath rounded out the trio and with his intelligence and consistency, meaning by default he became the leader of the pace attack.
It’s hard to see how the next crop of fast bowlers will get anywhere near the success the trio had on or off the pitch. Johnson, while getting some bro points for having a hot fiancee, is and will always be an erratic bowler. No other fast bowler has claimed a permanent slot. The main contenders such as as Ryan Harris (31) and Doug Bollinger (29) are already approaching the twilight of their careers, and don’t have the time to build the same sort of rapport in the stands the same way a Gillespie, who debuted at 21 years of age, did.
At the first sign of trouble against the old enemy in the Ashes, it was no surprise to see Australian cricket fans crying out for Warnie, like someone for their ex girlfriend after a 12-month dry spell. It’s questionable whether the spin king will ever be replaced. Just to ease the pain of our Warnie withdrawal symptoms, Channel 9 sought to appease our appetite with what has to go down as the worst new television show of 2010. If that’s not a sign of holding on to dear life of our ‘golden generation’ I don’t know what is.
With able deputy Stuart MacGill retiring from Test cricket not too long after Warnie, the spinner is a position that has yet to be claimed by any bowler. Hauritz will always have question marks over whether he truly is international class. Doherty has already come and probably forever gone after two matches this series. Michael Beer is seemingly next in line but a CV says seven first-class games for Western Australia is hardly something that fills you with confidence.
We have also said goodbye to the Waugh brothers, excitement machines like Gilchrist and Symonds, and great technicians like Martyn and Langer. Once Ponting and Hussey go we will be going into uncharted waters where our entire team will seem inexperienced.
Can the next generation of cricketers work their way into our hearts and perform nearly as well as the previous generation of Aussie cricketers did? Time will tell, but the signs suggest we are set for a tough transition period that could take many years.
As they say, they best way to get over a lost love is to get behind another one and with young cricketers like Philip Hughes and Steve Smith getting a gig for the national team there is potential for Australian cricket to continue to live up to it’s billing as the number one cricketing nation and Australia’s number one summer sport well into the future.
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